Hauliers concerned over penalty points rollout

The Irish Road Haulage Association has re-affirmed its backing for the penalty points system, but is concerned about certain aspects of the forthcoming roll-out, which will see an additional 68 offences added in the coming months.

In an exclusive interview with irishtrucker.com newly elected president Eamonn Morrissey said that the association had problems with some of the offences covered in the roll-out and he would be seeking a meeting with Transport Minister Seamus Brennan to discuss these concerns.

"There is great concern within the association with regard to the continued roll-out of the penalty points system. We are fully aware that road safety is of the utmost importance. We are fully behind penalty points for speeding, but there are elements in the roll-out that are of concern to us," Morrissey commented.

The IRHA is concerned about a number of offences, which pertain specifically to the road transport industry. "One of the offences relate to the tachograph. If the seal on the tachograph or on the gearbox is broken the driver can be fined and have penalty points added to his licence." He continued: "I believe it isn't the driver's job to get under the truck and examine the gearbox or to open the dashboard to check the tachograph seal.

There are health and safety issues at play here." The IRHA is also concerned about vehicle markings. "There are a lot of out of state trailers coming into Ireland. Our members haul them out and down the road from the ports.

Again the driver is liable to have penalty points added to his licence." Morrissey wants to meet with the Minister to discuss the future rollout with a view to amending some of the offences relating to hauliers. He explained: "It is obvious the Minister has been advised by people that have no practical 'or hands on experience' in the industry.

Minister Brennan is the man calling the shots and he is calling the shots from behind closed doors." Morrissey contends that the IRHA has already raised these issues with the Department of Transport, but they have been met will a wall of silence.

He warned: "If you are the Minister of Transport, you have to meet with your people. His people are the hauliers on the road every day of the week."